Combined line-chalker and plumb-bob.



Patented Fab. 26, mm.

r. .1. NAPIER. COMBINED LINE CHALKEB AND PLUIIB-BOB.

A mmo'n filed June 20, 1900.)

(No Model.)

T: NORRIS PETERs 00., Pnomuma. wuumamu. u. c.

UNrTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK J. NAPIER, OF JEANERETTE, LOUISIANA.

COMBINED LlNE-CHALKER AND PLUlVlB-BOB.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 668,998, dated February 26, 1901. Application filed June 20, 1900. berjal No. 21,015. (No model.)

.To a whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK J. NAPIER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jeanerette, Iberia parish, and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and useful Combined Line-Chalker and Plumb-Bob, of which the following is a specification.

Thisinvention relates to chalk-lines for carpenters, masons, and the like, and has for its object to provide an improved device for chalking a chalk-line and which is also arranged to form a plumb-bob. It is furthermore designed to provide the device with improved means for insuring the proper application of chalk to the line and to hold the chalk tightly packed within the device.

With these and other objects in view the present in vention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings,and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a line-chalker and plumb-bob constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view thereof.

Corresponding parts are designated by like characters of reference in both figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the body of the present device, which is in the form of a tubular casing having a conical lower end 2. The upper end of the casing is open and is normally closed by means of a suitable screw cap or cover 3, having a central screwthreaded opening for the removable reception of a small metallic nipple or tube 4-, which is provided with a rubber or like bushing or packing tube 5, having its bore tapering outwardly. The opposite conical end of the casing is also provided with an opening in line with the opening in the cover, and the extremity thereof is externally screwthreaded for the removable reception of an internally-screw-threaded metallic nipple 5,

having a rubber or like bushing or packing tube 6, which has its bore tapered outwardly.

It is designed to have a suitable amount of loose chalk or other suitable marking material 7 contained within the casing, the line 8 being passed through the alined openings, so as to pass through the chalk and take up particles thereof, whereby the line is conveniently chalked. It will be understood that after the line has once been applied to the casing it is merely necessary to slide either one of the members upon the other to bring the chalk into contact with as much of the line as may be desired. 1

In order that the chalk or other powdered material may be conveniently packed, a rubber or other follower iu the form of a disk 9 is loosely fitted within the casing and provided with a central opening or perforation 10 for the loose reception of the line, so that the follower may always rest upon the upper surface of the powdered chalk to hold the latter in a proper packed condition.

It will now be apparent that by having the packings or bushings of the nipples provided with outwardly-tapered bores, the smallest parts of which frictionally embrace the cord, the chalk will be prevented from escaping from the casing and will be effectively pressed into the line, so as to insure a proper chalking thereof.

To render the device available as a plumbline, there is provided a hollow inverted conical cap 11 to receive the conical lower end of the casing and protect the nipple 5, the adjacent end of the line being secured to the inner side of the apex by means of a screweye 12, thatis carried by the cap, and has the end of the line tied thereto. When in use as a plumb-bob, the line is drawn through the casing until the conical cap snugly receives the conical end of the casing, whereby the latter is fixed tothe lower end of the line and forms a weight or bob for use in the ordinary manner, while the cap also houses and protects the nipple 5.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the present invention provides a simple and eflicient device for conveniently chalking a line and at the same time prevents the escape of the chalk, and thereby protects the clothing of the operator. Also the conical end of the casing is housed and protected when not in use, and the device may be conveniently converted into a plumb-bob.

What is claimed is 1. A line-chalker, comprising a casing for containing marking material, and-provided in its opposite ends with corresponding perforations, a follower loosely held within the casing, and a line passing loosely through the corresponding perforations and also through a perforation formed in the follower.

2. A line-chalker, comprising a casing for containing a marking material, and provided with oppositely-alined perforations, nipples removably connected to the respective perforations, rubber or like bushings or tubular packings removably held within the nipples, and aline passingloosely through the nipples.

3. Acombined line-chalker and plum b-bob, comprising a conical casing for containing a marking material, and provided with alined openings in the base and apex of the casing, a line passing loosely through the openings, and a hollow conical cap secured to one end of the line and arranged to snugly receive the apex of the casing.

4. Acombinedline-chalkerand plumb-bob, comprising a tubular casing, having a conical end, the apex of the latter being provided with a perforation, a removable cover for the opposite end of the casing, and having a central perforation, a line passing loosely through the perforations, a follower loosely received Within the casing, and having a central perforation for the loose reception of the line, and a hollow conical cap to snugly receive the conical end of the casing, the adjacent end of the line being secured to the inner side of the apex of the cap.

5. A line-chalker, comprising a tubular casing, which is closed at opposite ends, and the latter having corresponding central perforations, loose marking material contained within the casing, and a loose follower resting upon the surface of the marking material, slidably fitting the interior walls of the casing, and having a central perforation in alinement with the corresponding perforations of the opposite ends of the casing.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRED. J. NAPIER. Witnesses:

J. A. DARBY, JOHN C. THOMAS. 

